OPRL has welcomed the appointment of Linda Crichton MBE to its board as a Non-Executive Director. With a career spanning environmental consultancy, WRAP, and Defra, Linda brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in waste management, recycling, and pac

OPRL has welcomed the appointment of Linda Crichton MBE to its board as a Non-Executive Director.

With a career spanning environmental consultancy, WRAP, and Defra, Linda brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in waste management, recycling, and packaging policy.

OPRL’s Interim Managing Director, Jude Allan, said: “Linda’s addition strengthens our board’s ability to drive progress in packaging recyclability, consumer engagement, and circular economy initiatives. Her experience and insight are invaluable as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of packaging and recycling policy. We’re thrilled to have her on board to help shape the future of OPRL!”

Linda is a well-known thought-leader in the sector, whose work spans consumer awareness and industry programmes. From directing local authority support programmes, to driving consumer campaigns like Recycle Now, she has played a key role in the shift to sustainability. Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I am delighted to be joining the Board of OPRL at this important juncture in the transition from voluntary to mandatory labelling and to have the opportunity to contribute to the further development of OPRL through this period.”       

Linda began her career as an environmental consultant, leading strategic studies on waste and sustainability in the UK and internationally. She then joined WRAP, where she established and managed the local authority support program and later led key initiatives on recycling. In 2018, Linda joined Defra’s Resources & Waste team, co-leading efforts to reform the UK packaging producer responsibility system.  She was awarded an MBE in 2020 for Services to the Waste and Recycling Sector.

The independent Non-Executive Directors on the Board of Directors at OPRL Ltd bring a wealth of experience from their professional lives across a wide range of businesses and organisations. Each NED serves in their individual capacity, dedicated to advancing the interests of OPRL with their collective insight and experience. Linda’s addition strengthens our board’s ability to drive progress in packaging recyclability, consumer engagement, and circular economy initiatives.

Ends

Editors notes

1. OPRL is the UKs independent expert in recyclability for packaging, best known for the world-leading on-pack recycling labels that it supplies to its members.  OPRL works to achieve its vision of a world where packaging does not go to waste.

2. OPRL is an independent, not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, established to help retailers and brands engage their customers in recycling.  

3. The company’s guarantors span ACE UK, Alupro, British Glass, CPI, INCPEN, LARAC, MPMA and RECOUP. 

4. OPRL was launched in 2009, as a not-for-profit limited by guarantee as part of the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The move followed work between BRC, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), their leading members, and WRAP. The aim was to devise a labelling system that would engage consumers with recycling, as local authorities started to roll out basic services.